Best Time to Visit Georgia (Especially If You Care About Wine)

25th March 2026

When is the best time to visit Georgia? It’s one of the questions we hear most often, and our answer is: it depends on what you want to experience. Wine is not seasonal here; it’s a part of daily life, but each time of year offers a different rhythm and a slightly different way to explore it.

Spring: blossom, festivals, and a packed wine calendar

Spring in Georgia can be rainy, but it’s also one of the most exciting times to visit. The country is in bloom, Tbilisi feels lively again, and the wine calendar kicks off properly.

Early May is especially important. Over one weekend, several key events take place across the city: Zero Compromise, Saamuri Wine Salon, Sherekilebi, and Wine Ambassadors. It’s a rare moment when you can taste widely, meet producers from across the country, and get a real sense of what Georgian wine looks like today.

The following weekend brings the New Wine Festival in Mtatsminda Park - a large, open-air event with free pouring and a mix of producers. From 2026, 8 May is officially recognised as National Wine Day in Georgia, so expect even more tastings and public celebrations around this period.

If winery visits are part of your plan, we suggest aiming for the second half of May. In the first weeks, many small and medium producers are busy with fairs or hosting buyers. Later in the month, things slow down, and visits become more personal.

Late May continues with events such as the Merano Wine Festival at Chateau Mukhrani (30 May 2026) and the Bolnisi Wine Festival (31 May 2026). 

Summer: warm days, mountain escapes, and planning your wine stops

Summer begins with WinExpo Georgia and continues with the Supernatural Wine Festival, making June a particularly good time to visit. The weather is warm but still manageable, and it’s easy to combine winery visits with historical sites like Uplistsikhe or Vardzia. For a quieter stay, Ateni Valley is a great base, with easy access to wineries and a slower pace.

By July and August, the heat becomes intense, especially in Kakheti and Kartli. This is when many travellers head to the mountains - Kazbegi, Svaneti, Tusheti - for cooler temperatures and dramatic landscapes. Do keep in mind that these regions are not wine-producing, so it’s worth planning ahead.

Some of Georgia’s most scenic routes naturally connect wine regions with mountain destinations. The road to Tusheti starts in Kakheti, where the list of interesting wineries is too long for one article. Lagodekhi National Park, also in Kakheti, is another strategic stop. There’s something quite satisfying about finishing a hike and opening a good bottle nearby!

The Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi passes through the surroundings of Saguramo and Mukhrani. Along the way, you’ll find wineries such as Peradze, Villa Mosavali, Sevsamora, Chateau Mukhrani, Crush 525, and 39 Qvevris.

The road to Svaneti begins in Samegrelo, where small producers like Oda, Obene, and Targameuli offer a different perspective on Georgian wine. Visiting them en route is an easy way to keep wine part of your journey, even when heading into non-wine regions.

Autumn: harvest season, colour, and a full programme

Autumn is harvest time, and while it’s often seen as the most romantic season, it is also the busiest. Smaller producers may not always be able to host visits, while larger wineries are usually more flexible.

The Racha region is particularly beautiful in October, when the landscape turns golden. Known for its semi-sweet wines, the region is also shifting towards dry styles and a renewed focus on indigenous white grape varieties. It’s a place of small, family-run hotels, glampings, and nano wineries, with larger producers like Naberauli nearby.

Kakheti remains lively in autumn, not just because of the harvest, but also thanks to events at Tsinandali Estate, including the classical music festival in September and the jazz and wine festival in October. Larger wineries often offer the harvest experience for tourists in September - you can pick some grapes, squish them with your feet, and feast afterwards.

Imereti is another excellent choice in early autumn. The weather is milder, and winery visits are easy to arrange. Producers such as Chateau Labara, Baia’s Wine, Makaridze, Sopromadze, and Nanua offer a warm welcome, and staying in places like Vartsikhe Estate adds to the experience. It’s also a great time to explore natural sites like Okatse Canyon or local caves.

By October and November, the Black Sea coast becomes an appealing option. Batumi, its botanical gardens, and the mountainous parts of Adjara offer a different side of Georgia, with small wineries and scenic stays. September is still warm enough for the sea, but later in autumn is ideal for exploring.

Winter: slower visits and more time with winemakers

Winter in Georgia is quieter. Vineyards are dormant, the air is crisp in the valleys, and the mountains are covered in snow.

This is a very good time to stay in winery-based hotels. Without the rush of the busy seasons, there is more opportunity to meet winemakers and spend time understanding their work in depth.

For those heading to the mountains, winter sports and wine combine well. A glass of hot wine on the slopes of Gudauri feels very different from a Christmas market in Tbilisi - and both options are well worth trying.

So, when should you visit Georgia?

Spring is ideal for trying hundreds of wines at the festivals.
June offers good weather and a lot of activities.
July and August are for mountains.
Autumn brings a harvest atmosphere and great seasonal produce at supras.
Winter gives you a thrill on the slopes and a more personal experience in the wineries.

Whenever you come, Georgia offers a wine culture that is generous and deeply connected to place!